Combined bottle stopper and measuring device



Dec. 27, 1938. l.. KOUKAL COMBINED BOTTLE STOPPER AND MEASURING DEVICEFiled Sept. 25, 1957 FIC-if Oa/.s KOU/(AL. INVENTOR BY Vf 4 I ATTORNEYS.

WITNESS.'

Patented Dec. 27, 193s COMBINED BOTTLE STOPPER ANDI MEASURING DEVICELouis Koukal, New York, N. Y.

Application September 25, 1937, Serial No. 165,723

9 Claims. (Cl. 221-147) This invention relates to a combined bottlestopper and liquid measuring device and con` stitutes an improvementover a somewhat similar construction set forth in my co-pending U. S.

patent application, Serial No. 162,961, filed September 9, 1937.

The main feature of the invention resides in a device which may besubstituted for the stopper of a bottle to enable the automaticmeasuring of a predetermined quantity of liquid poured from the bottleupon inversion of the same, and which device will be found useful uponliquor bottles for expediting accurate measuring of liquor pouredtherefrom in the making of mixed drinks,

and also upon liquid medicine bottles for pouring predetermined doses ofmedicine therefrom.

Another feature of the invention is to provide a dispensing stopper forbottles which may be adjusted to dispense various predetermined amountsof liquid upon each inversion thereof.

A further feature of the invention is the provision of a combined bottlestopper and liquid measuring device which is simple and inexpensive ofconstruction, accurate in its measuring action,

and which may be kept in a sanitary condition for interchangeableapplication to bottles containing diierent liquids.

Other objects of the invention will be apparent as the followingspecification is read in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, inwhich:

Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view through the neck end of a bottleshowing my bottle stopper and automatic measuring device associatedtherewith, the bottle being shown in upright position.

'Figure 2 is a view similar to Figure 1, but

showing the bottle inverted and the valve member in closed position.

Figure 3 is an enlarged horizontal sectional view on the line 3-3 ofFigure 1.

Figures 4 and 5 are detail vertical sectional views showing modifiedmeans of forming a spiral track for the ball valve member.

Referring to the drawing by reference char-1 acters, the numeral I0designates a plug stopper which may be constructed of cork, rubber orother yieldable sealing material. The stopper I0 is provided with acentral opening II in which is fitted a cylindrical body I2 having abore I3 extending centrally therethrough and which bore opens at the tipend of the spout I 4 formed integral with the body I2. The top of thebody I2 is provided with an annular flange I 5 which overlies the top ofthe plug stopper Il).

Integral with the body I2 and depending downwardly therefrom is atubular extension I6, the

said extension being in axial alinement with the bore I3. Whereas thebody I2 and the integral parts I4 and I6 may be constructed of metal orother like material, I prefer to mold the same from hard rubber orsimilar composition.

Formed on the inner side of the tubular extension I6 and extending thelength thereof is a spiral rib I1, which rib forms a spiral channel ortrack I8 along the length of the inner walls of the tubular extension.'Ihe inner diameter 10 of the tubular extension I6 is greater than thediameter of the duct I3 and provided at the top or inner end of thetubular extension is a ball valve seat I9. Inlet passages 20 areprovided in the walls of the tubular extension adjacent the 15 valveseat I9 for the admission of liquid from a bottle to pass into thetubular extension and out through the duct I3 upon inversion of a bottleon which the device may be used.

Disposed within the tubular extension I 6 for 20 passage over the spiralgroove or track I8 is a metal ball 2I of a size to snugly t against theball valve seat I9 when the ball valve member is in closing position.Threaded in the lower end of the tubular extension I6 is an adjustablestop 25 member 22, which limits the return movement of the ball valvemember 2I from a closing position to its normal position. The stopmember 22 is provided with spiral threads for threading en'- gagementwith the spiral rib I'I provided on the 30 inner walls of the tubularextension I6.

Extending through the body I2 and xedly secured thereto is an air venttube 23 which admits air into a bottle during the pouring of liquidcontents therefrom. 35

In the drawing I have illustrated my combined stopper and liquidmeasuring device as being tted into the neck A of a bottle B, and inFigure 1 the bottle B is shown in a normal upright position, at whichtime the ball valve member 40 A 1 2| rests against the inner end of thestop member 22. Assume that it is desired to pour out a predeterminedamount of the liquid in the bottle B, whereupon the operator inverts thebottle B to the position shown in Figure 2, at which 45 time liquid willpass from the bottle B through the inlet passages 2li into the bore I3and out of the tip end of the spout I4. The liquid Will continue to flowfrom the spout until such time as the ball valve member 2I requires tomove 50 from the normal position shown in Figure 1 to a position againstthe valve seat I9, and when reaching the valve seat, the supply ofliquid to the bore I3 .is shut off. It will therefore be seen that thetime interval that it takes the ball 2I 55 to move from its normalposition against the stop member 22 to the valve seat I9 controls theamount of liquidwhich will be dispensed on each inversion of the bottle.It therefore follows that by adjusting the stop member 22 in or out withrespect to the tubular extension I6, the quantty of liquid dispensed oneach inversion of the bottle may be'accurately and predeterminedlycontrolled. The air vent tube 23 extends from the top of the body memberI2 to a position ad- `jacent the inner or lower end of the tubularextension I6, and as previously stated, this tube admits atmospheric airinto the bottle as the liquid contents are dispensed therefrom.

In Figure 4 of the drawing, I have illustrated a slightly modiiled formof spiral track in which the numeral 24 designates the tubular extensionequivalent to the extension I6 previously described. Fitted into thetubular extension 2l is a spiral wire spring 25, the convolutions ofwhich are so spaced as to provide a spiral track for the spiral passageof a ball valve member 26.

In Figure 5 of the drawing a still further modified form of spiral trackhas been shown, and in this ilgure the numeral 21 designates the tubularextension in which is fitted a spiral metal ribbon 2B, which ribbon maybe anchored to the tubular extension 21 and the spaces between theconvolutions so arranged as to provide a spiral track or groove 29 forthe ball valve member 30.

From the foregoing description, it will be seen that I have provided acombined bottle stopper and liquid measuring device which. may be fittedinto the neck ofa bottle to predeterminedly measure the amount of liquidpoured therefrom upon each inversion of the bottle. The device consistsof but a single moving part, namely the ball valve member and wheninterchanglng the device from one bottle to another, the device may bethoroughly cleansed, for it is only necessary to remove the stop member22 and ball, 2i, whereupon the device may be cleaned by placing the samebeneath a water faucet.

While I have shown and described what I consider to be the mostpractical embodiment of my invention, I wish it to be understood thatsuch changes and alterations as come within the scope of the appendedclaims may be resorted to if desired.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters vPatent of the United States, is:-

l. A device of the class described comprising in combination, a closuremember having a pouring outlet passage therein, a valve seat at theinner end of said passage, a ball valve member, and spiral track meansfor guiding said ball valve member toward and away from said valve seatduring alternate inversion of the device.

2. A device of the class described comprising in combination, a plugmember having a pouring outlet passage, a tubular member extending fromsaid plug member and into which the inner end of said passage opens, avalve seat at the inner end of said passage, said tubular member havinginlet openings therein adjacent said valve seat, a spiral track withinsaid tubular member,A

and a ball valve member disposed within said tubular member and movableover the spiral track toward and away from said valve seat duringalternate inversions of the device.

3. A device of the class described comprising in combination, a plugmember having a pouring outlet passage, a tubular extension memberintegral with and extending from the bottom 1nner end of said plugmember and having en munication with the inner end of said passage,

` a valve seat 'at the inner end of said passage.

said tubular extension having inlet openings therein adjacent said valveseat, a spiral rib formed integral with said tubular extension toprovide a spiral track therein, and s ball valve member disposed withinsaid tubular extension and movable over the spiral track toward and awayfrom said valve seat during alternate inversion of the device.

4. A device of the class described comprising in combination, a plugmember having a pouring outlet passage, a tubular extension memberintegral with and extending from the bottom inner end of said plugmember and having communication with the inner end of said passage, avalve seat at the inner end of said passage, said tubular extensionhaving inlet openings therein adjacent said valve seat, a spiral wirefixedly disposed within said tubular extension, the convolutions of saidspiral wire providing a spiral track, and a ball valve member disposedwithin said tubular extension and movable' over the spiral track towardand away from said valve seat during alternate inversion of the device.

5. A device of the class described comprising in combination, a plugmember having a pouring outlet passage, a tubular extension memberintegral with and extending from the bottom inner end of said plugmember and having communication with the inner end of said Passage, avalve seat at the inner end of said passage, said tubular extensionhaving inlet openings therein adjacent said valve seat, a spiral metalribbon element nxedly secured within said tubular extension, theconvolutions of which are spaced to provide a spiral track, and a ballvalve member disposed Within said tubular extension and movable over thespiral track toward and away from said valve seat during alternateinversion of the device.

6. A device of the class described comprising in combination, a plugbody, a tubular member extending from the bottom of said plug body, aspout extending from the top of said plug body, a pouring outlet passageextending from said tubular member through said plug member and spout tothe tip end oi the latter, a valve seat at the inner end of saidpassage, said tubular member having openings therein adjacent said valveseat, a spiral track provided on the inside of said tubular member, aball valve member disposed within said tubular member and movable oversaid spiral track, and an adjustable stop member threaded in the tubularmember for limiting the movement of the ball member in a direction awayfrom said valve seat.

'1. In a device of the class described, a tubular member having anopening in one end thereof and a valve seat surrounding said opening, aspiral track provided within said tubular member, and a ball valvemember disposed within said tubular member and movable back and forthover said spiral track upon alternate inversion of the tubular member tocause said ball valve member to eventually seat against said valve seatwhen reaching the limit of its gravitational movement in one direction.

8. In a device of the class described, a tubular member having anopening in one end thereof and a valve seat surrounding said opening, aspiral track provided within said tubular member, and a ball valvemember disposed within said tubular member and movable back and forthover said4 spiral track upon alternate in-4 version of the tubularmember to cause said ball valve member to eventually seat against saidvalve seat when reaching the limit of its gravitational movement in onedirection, and an adjustable stop member in the other end of saidtubular member for limiting the movement of said ball valve member in anopposite direction.

9. A device of the class described comprising in combination, a plugmember adapted to llt 10 into the mouth of a bottle and having a,pouring opening extending therethrough, a valve seat at the inner end ofthe pouring opening, a spiral guide track carried by the inner end ofsaid plug member and disposed in axial alinement with said valve seat.and a ball valve member captively associated with said spiral guidetrack and movable back and forth thereover during alternate inversion ofthe device.

LOUIS KOUKAL.

